Distribution and Habitat: It is native to Mexico and South America, but is cultivated worldwide

Botany:  It is an annual to biennial pungently scented herb, 15-45 cm tall with taproot.In India it is reported to be perennial. 

• Leaves: Older leaves are arranged in a basal rosette form, leaf blades are lanceolate to oblaceolate or spathulate in shape, margins spinous toothed.
• Inflorescence: Flowering shoots divaricately branched, bear more deeply toothed leaves. Flowers are white in cylindrical heads, subtended by a whorl of about 2-3 cm long, 5-6 unequal bracts resembling the upper leaves. Calyx teeth ridged and acute. Petals white or greenish
• Fruits: Ellipsoid or sub globose and greenish. Seeds semiterete.

Properties: Pungent, stimulate appetite, antibacterial

Chemical constituents: Oil contains eryngial, linalool, decanal, mesit aldehyde, 2-dodecenal, trans-2- dodecenal, trans-2-tridecenal.It contains 2E-2-dodecenal. 

Uses: The leaves and roots are used in tea to stimulate appetite, improve digestion, combat colic, soothe stomach pains, and eliminate gases and as an aphrodisiac
 

Propagation: by suckers